Welcome to my WAGATHON page!
Bill Topkis
Bill Topkis
It is WAGATHON time again! As you know, Guiding Eyes for the Blind (GEB) is a special charitable organization to both me and to my family. We have been lucky to raise five of their “releases” over the past 30+ years – Roscoe, Bosco, Bixx, Shasta, and Mighty Everest. Together we have the led the nation in both funds raised and miles “wagged” in the Wagathon for the past two years, and yes, we are going for the “Three-Peat”. The miles should be easy, we have been hiking ten miles a day for most of this year. But, we will need your help for this wonderful cause to be the fundraising leader.
This year there will again be a “Team Topkis” participating in the Wagathon. Team Topkis led all teams last years in funds raised, and finished second in miles “wagged”. We look to be adding a couple members to the team to help get the milage total up a bit.
Everest, who will turn four during this campaign will be logging all of the miles with me. We do more than 300 miles of hiking a month. For those that have not heard, Shasta is no longer with us, and I dedicate my efforts to her memory, and for her school. There is always a chance we get a new canine team member during this campaign.
I have on several occasions had the opportunity to visit the GEB facilities in Yorktown Heights, NY, including their “Canine Development Center” – with more than 200 puppies, and their kennels with more than 500 dogs, I am impressed with their school and training operation. And of course I am impressed with their dogs (labs and German shepards).
GEB depends entirely upon donors like us to be able to do the work that they do. They receive no government subsidies and they never charge recipients for their guide dogs. They have mastered every part of creating enabling dogs for the blind. That starts with exceptional breeding and cutting-edge birthing programs that develop the greatest dogs bred for their intelligence and other key traits (such as the first breeding Labradors that do not have hip dysplasia). GEB dogs are used throughout the world for breeding. Many of their dogs that do not serve as Guides are used as arson dogs (sniff for accelerants), bomb squad dogs, or in their “Healing Autism” program. And a few dropouts (they call them “releases”) thankfully end up in homes like mine.
Their puppy raising starts from the day of birth. Mobiles are placed above their crates to get them used to looking up (no doubt why GEB dogs make for such exceptional frisbee catchers). After 12 weeks of training, they are placed with a “puppy raiser family” who have training protocols and evaluations. After a year, the puppies come back to GEB where they go through another year of training prior to being matched with their blind handler. Unlike other trained dogs, Guide Dogs require a level of critical thinking to know when to refuse a command. (For example, if the handler gives the command to go, but the dog knows a hazard has not been identified, such as a low branch the dog can pass under, they will insist the handler identify the problem prior to proceeding). These dogs are truly amazing.
After two years, and over $50,000 invested, GEB expertly matches the dog’s personality with the right person, and then they train at their school, together, for a month, as handler and guide, to be independent and successful. The process is completed with an emotional graduation ceremony with the new handler’s family, trainers, puppy raisers, and other GEB staff. All of this, including a month or more in their dorms are at no expense to the recipient or to their family.
All of this is why I participate in their annual Wagathon, and if you are interested in giving, I am asking for your support for this great cause.
Thank you for your consideration!
My Best, Bill (and Mighty Everest!)
This year there will again be a “Team Topkis” participating in the Wagathon. Team Topkis led all teams last years in funds raised, and finished second in miles “wagged”. We look to be adding a couple members to the team to help get the milage total up a bit.
Everest, who will turn four during this campaign will be logging all of the miles with me. We do more than 300 miles of hiking a month. For those that have not heard, Shasta is no longer with us, and I dedicate my efforts to her memory, and for her school. There is always a chance we get a new canine team member during this campaign.
I have on several occasions had the opportunity to visit the GEB facilities in Yorktown Heights, NY, including their “Canine Development Center” – with more than 200 puppies, and their kennels with more than 500 dogs, I am impressed with their school and training operation. And of course I am impressed with their dogs (labs and German shepards).
GEB depends entirely upon donors like us to be able to do the work that they do. They receive no government subsidies and they never charge recipients for their guide dogs. They have mastered every part of creating enabling dogs for the blind. That starts with exceptional breeding and cutting-edge birthing programs that develop the greatest dogs bred for their intelligence and other key traits (such as the first breeding Labradors that do not have hip dysplasia). GEB dogs are used throughout the world for breeding. Many of their dogs that do not serve as Guides are used as arson dogs (sniff for accelerants), bomb squad dogs, or in their “Healing Autism” program. And a few dropouts (they call them “releases”) thankfully end up in homes like mine.
Their puppy raising starts from the day of birth. Mobiles are placed above their crates to get them used to looking up (no doubt why GEB dogs make for such exceptional frisbee catchers). After 12 weeks of training, they are placed with a “puppy raiser family” who have training protocols and evaluations. After a year, the puppies come back to GEB where they go through another year of training prior to being matched with their blind handler. Unlike other trained dogs, Guide Dogs require a level of critical thinking to know when to refuse a command. (For example, if the handler gives the command to go, but the dog knows a hazard has not been identified, such as a low branch the dog can pass under, they will insist the handler identify the problem prior to proceeding). These dogs are truly amazing.
After two years, and over $50,000 invested, GEB expertly matches the dog’s personality with the right person, and then they train at their school, together, for a month, as handler and guide, to be independent and successful. The process is completed with an emotional graduation ceremony with the new handler’s family, trainers, puppy raisers, and other GEB staff. All of this, including a month or more in their dorms are at no expense to the recipient or to their family.
All of this is why I participate in their annual Wagathon, and if you are interested in giving, I am asking for your support for this great cause.
Thank you for your consideration!
My Best, Bill (and Mighty Everest!)
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